Hanika is of course favourite to take the Cup, either here or at the final round in Aragon, but equally it is a racing certainty that he will have a fight on his hands all the way just as he has in the 11 previous races. Both Hanika and Martín were brought down on the final lap in Britain, but it was only the Spaniard who was able to remount and take the points that kept his challenge alive; he takes that determination to Italy.

Scotty on form

Silverstone Race 2 victor Scott Deroue is absolutely the man on form and the 17-year-old Dutchman comes straight from a double victory in the ONK Moto3 championship at Assen last weekend. Hanika also kept his winning form up with victory in the IDM Moto3 Championship at the Sachsenring.

Matching their National Championship successes, Jordan Weaving snatched victory from Tarran Mackenzie in a thrilling last lap at Donington Park to win his second British Moto3 Championship round. Mackenzie is already a three-time winner in Britain and both are also hitting good form in Rookies Cup, with Weaving part of the lead battle at Silverstone and Mackenzie a strong ninth in Race 1.

Local heroes

There was no national championship round last weekend for the Italians, but of course they are all looking for home success at Misano. Stefano Manzi, the 14-year-old from Santarcangelo di Romagna, Rimini, lives only 35 kilometres from the track and has already scored two second places and two thirds so far this season, his second year in Rookies Cup. First season local challengers are 15-year-old Enea Bastianini, also from Rimini and even closer to the track, who won in Jerez and 17-year-old Manuel Pagliani, from Camposampiero, Padua, who has three second places to his name. Mario Tocca makes the trip from Rome, keen to celebrate Thursday's 15th birthday in style.

Manzi lies seventh in the Cup points after some bad luck this season. Pagliani is third and Bastianini fifth, split by Marcos Ramirez, the 15-year-old Spaniard who had a double third at Silverstone. He was also third in Race 1 at Assen and last year he had three second places, so is still looking for his first win.